Jungle Peril

Chapter Six

Kyle, Lisa, Azura, and Donald made their way through the thick forest of the sss heading for the rendezvous point. They had been trekking for hours now and the energy they had from their last meal was letting diminishing rapidly. The forest had not helped matters, the sun had risen to its full peak and was punishing them with its harsh rays of heat on their skin. Coupled with the cold and wet leaves that had whipped their legs in the earlier hours of the morning; the sun was a comforting trouble. Their eyes were faint, their bones were weak, their bodies were dirty and their bellies were empty. The crude cutlass they had made with the tree branch was not effective in removing the thin branches of thick leaves that punished their legs.

God please this sun is too hot, Azura cried out. The others only looked at her for a second.

Finally, they were underneath the thick cover of the trees of the sss. It was a place of solace as their environment became darker and darker with each step they took beneath the trees. With the new found solace came another source of fear they had begun to see apes swinging from some of the trees. As if following the crew, the apes watched the familiar shapes of four human beings.

Hope they are not going to attack us? Lisa panicked clutching on Kyles hands in fear.

No, as long as we dont threaten them, they wont attack us”, Donald commented

How can you be sure of that? Azura questioned.

My Dad once told me about it

Everyone looked towards him. It was the first time they would ever hear him talk about his dad.

I didnt know you had a Dad, Kyle laughed and the others joined.

Of course I do, Donald protested and the others laughed more.

What? Whats going through your f*****g minds? He lashed out in defence

The others only laughed till their eyes were teary. It vexed him more. Finally, he was quiet.

Kyle was there to help him understand the reason for the laugh

We have never heard you talk about your Dad. Thats why

I dont like the man thats why, Donald replied and remained stern. That was serious and the crew kept an awkward silence. Azura was there to break the ice

“Only few people love their dads”

I dont even love mine at all. Trust me its not like yours, that made the conversation more awkward.

Enough about dads already, Kyle concluded.

Then they saw it. It was an opening in the bush that looked suspicious. They could tell it was made by human hands or were those the works of apes?

Since it was directly in their path they went through the opening and were immediately taken aback. Lisa screamed and even Kyle staggered the sight till it became clearer. If they didnt know better, they would have called it human hands.

Right in front of them was an opening that resembled a bonfire in the forest. There was burnt wood in the middle of the opening surrounded by banana leaves obviously used as a form of seat for the participators. The setting wasnt as shocking as the object of meal. Hung limply from a platform above the fire was a

Is that human hands? Donald shouted and everyones gaze was on him.

If I didnt know better I will say it is, Kyle explained trying desperately hard not to frighten the horde.

I cant believe this, Donald marvelled again

We are so dead. We are dead, she said repeatedly

Kyle had gone for a closer look at the item that had been roasted by the barbecue participators.

I dont think it is a human hand, he repeated until the crew couldnt help but believe him.

Why do you say it isnt? How can you tell? Lisa shouted. Her shout was loud enough to draw attention from the vicinity of the forest.

We saw apes along the way among the trees, didnt we? he asked and they nodded in return.

What if the occupants of this part of the forest love to eat monkeys? he hypothesized, trying desperately to believe his own words

Everyone pondered on his words for a moment and nodded in agreement. His explanation was the only solace they had at the revelation.

Yes, this right here is just where they enjoy their meal after a hard days work in the forest picking fruits from the trees, he explained as if he was there.

“That sounds logical”, Donald sided with his friend and the others had no option than to join in the theory but still they couldnt shake off the striking resemblance of the item before them to their own hands. The hands of a white skinned human being scrapped thoroughly of its epidermis. The theory was only to their brain; it wasnt enough to shake the fear that lingered in their hearts. They had only one aim in mind at this moment and that is to get to the rendezvous and out of the unfamiliar and unfriendly forest.

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Aldrin and Nicoles day seemed to be going pleasantly thanks to the adequate preparation that they had made before making it. Aldrin decided it was best for them to traverse the river using the well-developed map with him. They had trekked most of the mornings stopping intermittently only to take pictures of nature and of themselves.

Once again they were under the thick cover of the trees but this time they were unlucky. They had run into wet grounds and it was ruining their shoes and clothing.

Gosh, I cant believe I fell victim of this again, Aldrin fumed. the water had risen enough to reach their ankles and now they fear for the alligators and snakes that would love the kind of environment they currently find themselves.

Shit. What do we do if we see one? Nicole panicked.

Aldrin laughed. Lets see one first he boasted

Are you kidding me. I dont

swipe!!!!! Nicole had slipped deep into the mud below. She struggled with her entire strength to get out of the sink hole but

Stop! Aldrin screamed in caution. That word fell on deaf ears as her struggle intensified in the bid to escape from the trap that she had fallen into.

“Its a quicksand” Aldrin shouted and began to look around his immediate vicinity for any means of escape.

Help me Aldrin, please help me! I am sinking into a well she cried out in tears.

He grabbed her hands in comfort but he knew he couldnt hold onto her for long. He had to find a way to escape her from the quicksand which she had being trapped. His eyes scanned for any piece of branch that was strong enough for what he is planning.

Hold on Nicole, dont struggle, stay still. I repeat stay still, he issued out instruction but he knew it wont be able to hold her for long. He needed to do something fast or she will be swallowed head dip. Finally, he spotted a suitable stick in the distance

Remain calm for me Nicole, will you? he said loudly but calmly.

I am calm. I am calm, she repeated in tears. She didnt look like it.

I am going to leave your hands now. I will be back in a few moment. I want to get to that stick over there to pull you out of the hole. He explained.

Please dont leave me. Please dont leave me! She repeated

I am not leaving you Nicole. I will never leave you. Promise me you wont struggle,

I wont struggle, I am calm, she said repeatedly as Aldrin left her hands quickly and ran on the wet grounds towards the tree until he saw it.

It was a crocodile standing immediately around the stick he had planned to use for her escape. His head began to race on possible ways he could use to get to the stick which he needed desperately before Nicole is swallowed alive in the quicksand.

The crocodile looked like it was sleeping but he could never be sure. He looked behind him towards where Nicole was; she was repeating the same words like a mantra. Then he saw something else. Was that another crocodile moving towards her?

Yes, indeed it was. The splash of water as she struggles to free herself from the quicksand had attracted them and there were about three of them headed straight towards her direction.

He needed to do something quickly!

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Kevin and Aviance could never feel safe in the room they had been provided by the sss villagers. Even though they had been friendly, they still felt strange and awkward. But at least the night was more pleasant under the cover of a house inhabited by natives than being out in the open alone wary of dangerous animals that might attack you when you are asleep.

All the children of the community had come to visit the new visitors. They were all naked except for the paints that were used to colour their chests and laps giving it the shape of a short pant. The kids watched from a distance at the strangely dressed couple. The children giggled amongst themselves and pointed at them while speaking the strange language. One of them got confident enough to move close to the couple. She was laughing naughtily and she was cautious.

Come, Aviance gestured at the kid. The others suddenly became reclusive.

She reached out into her bag to bring a biscuit from her bag and pointed it at the brave kid.

The girl ran towards her and snatched the biscuit from her hands and returned to her friends.

Thats not friendly, Aviance muttered gently to the kid in a friendly tone.

She brought out another biscuit from her bag and waved it like a trophy for any kid that would be brave enough to come closer to the couple. The little girl that had the first biscuit put it in her mouth without removing the nylon. She munched on it and saw that it was crunchy but she still couldnt fully bite it off. The couple laughed at her.

Aviance took the biscuit in her hands and tore it to reveal its edible contents; she took one biscuit from the nylon and put it in her mouth. The girl watched and replicated the steps. She munched on the sweet biscuit and the others joined her quickly making waste of the small biscuit and littering the entire floor of the room.

The small girl that had taken the brave step walked towards the couple again except that this time she can see that they meant no harm. Aviance received her on her laps and began to feed her the biscuit as if she was her own daughter.

Kevin watched the drama unfold in front of him. He couldnt help but see a resemblance between the girl and their own son Lucas who was crushed by the vehicle. Will this show of affection appease her tortured heart or remind her of its pains? Kevin marvelled in silence.

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The rest of the journey was laced with an awkward and scary silence as the four friends walked up a gentle sloped hill. Each of them still couldnt shake off the sight they had seen in that opening. The fear lingered in their hearts making them hasten their step to the rendezvous. Each of them were wary of their environment, they looked for any signs of advanced apes or humans. They didnt want to meet whichever tribe or specie it was that made the barbecue back the opening. Lisa held Kyles hands in a half-fear half-companionate grasp.

We are almost there, Kyle told the crew and he was pointing forward while staring at the map in his hands. Everyones eyes were on him. The rendezvous is after this set of trees which we should be clear of in few minutes time”, he explained

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief and continued their brisk walking. Strangely, it was already midday and none of them felt hungry a result of the fear and queasiness that occupies their bellies. Finally, they saw it it was an opening that laid at the end of the trees and was designed as for helicopter landings. But

Theres nothing happening here”, Lisa blurted out and it wasnt just an observation, it was a scary reality. The fear had risen tremendously; a feeling of despair and lack of hope. We are trapped, we are stuck on this strange forest. Azura repeated in her mind to comfort herself.

You must be kidding me! Donald exclaimed. The fear in his voice was evident.

Kyle was finding it hard to believe, he surveyed the entire opening and the tracks of the choppers that had landed was still evident. Then it hit him they had missed it, they had missed their flight. Those words were like death sentence. Judging by the freshness of the tracks he could tell it was just few hours ago. Lisa was already crying; she wanted explanations, someone that will tell her the chopper was coming in few minutes time.

What happened? What happened? she repeated directly at Kyle who is trying desperately hard to run away from delivering the findings he had made.

We missed it! We missed it! he repeated in despair.

What did we miss? Azura screamed in fear and the question was not a valid one.

Kyle examined the tracks again to be sure of what he just discovered.

Judging by this tracks I will say we missed it by an hour, he proclaimed.

“But they ought to know we were coming too”, Donald protested to no one particular.

Its all your fault Azura. We wouldnt have missed it if we hadnt stopped each time for your stupid prayers, Lisa shouted in tears. Kyle was not ready to separate the fight he could see brewing up. He had his own despair and hopelessness to cope with.

Dont call my prayers stupid. I was praying to the only person who can save us from this dungeon, Azura shouted in return and she was really vexed

He didnt save us, did he? Lisa retorted and that was too blatant. Azura reciprocated with a hot slap on Lisas face. Lisa returned hers and they began to brawl. Azura lifted Lisa by her trunk and threw her with her back on the ground. Azura began to pound her face in anger; Lisa scrambled up and turned Azura around. The tide had been turned and it was Lisas turn to pound on Azuras face. They turned out consecutively until Donald and Kyle could separate them. Donald held Azura and Kyle held Lisa. The two kicked the hair in anger in the bid to return to the deadly fight.

You are such a w***e! I wish you are dead! Azura screamed

You are nothing but a religious b***h”, Lisa retorted; her face had been bruised. She broke free from Kyles back hug and went for her heels that had fallen off in the brawl. She wore it angrily and stormed towards the trees.

Like an unexpected thunder, there was a rustling amongst the dry leaves within the trees. A rope swishing through the air and Lisa leg is swept from the ground and turned around. Her entire body was lifted into the hair and hung limply from a branch about 10 feet high above. Lisa had been hooked by a trap. They had missed it when they were coming and now her legs had triggered it.

Every member of the crew gasped at the scene. Donald was still hugging Azura from the back and now his hands slid limply to his side.

Lisa was hysteric high up in the trees.

Help me! Help me! she screamed madly. The others could only look on in utter fear. It took a minute before they could process what had happened. Lisa was hung upside down on the branch with one leg. She doesnt have much time left. Blood will soon flow into her brain and she would die a gruesome death. They had to think of something quickly; everyones eyes reverted to Kyle. He was their unofficial leader.

Stay put Lisa! he shouted at her. They began to work at the ropes that was part of the trap. The rope was hooked deep into the floor. They used the sharp end of the peg with Kyle to work at it. Minutes passed and they were still unsuccessful. Gruesome minutes it was as Lisa gradually lost consciousness. Azuras leg stepped on something and in another sudden disaster a sharp peg that had been laying fallow swished towards Lisa and impaled her eyes through her brain and out at the end of her neck. Blood and brain dropped on the working friends. Their clothes were stained with the blood of Lisa. The entire crew stood in another dangerous silence that they couldnt help. What had just happened?

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Aldrin was caught between the lion and the clear blue sea. His crush was about to be masticated by hungry looking crocodiles closing fast on her position. His only way of helping the stick was also guarded by a crocodile as if planned carefully by the amphibians. He needed to think of something quickly. In a swift moment he couldnt have imagined of himself he reached out for the stick before him with his cutlass on his other hand. The crocodile guarding the stick leaped for him but he reciprocated with a stunning blow of his sharp cutlass. The crocodile fell into a tumble and quickly gathered itself poised for another leap. Aldrin wasnt ready for the leap; he had go towards Nicole or he will lose her completely. She hadnt sighted the crocodiles yet and was still relatively calm. He could imagine how hysteric she will be when she sees the amphibians.

He ran in a zigzag manner towards and stood a fighting position to protect her. She was neck deep in the mud by now. He gave her the stick and gave her quick instructions.

Place the stick in a horizontal position and let your weight rest on it, she obeyed. Thank god she hasnt seen the alligators yet.

The crocodiles had noticed the activities and were in a half-run towards the duo. Three crocodiles with their mouth open. They were ready for their afternoon meal. Aldrin poised for a fight, his trousers and shoes had been thoroughly soaked with mud water but that was the least of his concerns right about now. One of the crocodiles leaped towards him but he landed a blow from the cutlass on its head and continued pounding till it was unconscious. He brought out a pistol from his inner pockets quickly and shot at the second one that was closer. One shot wasnt enough and he shot repeatedly till it was unconscious or so it seems. He knew these amphibians were very resilient and strong but that should buy him some time to attend to Nicole. The third crocodile was closer than he thought and was making its way directly at Nicole whom have been able to come out of the quicksand waist deep. Finally, she saw it; she gave a loud scream at the sight. Aldrin reloaded his pistol as fast as he could and shot the crocodile till it was unconscious. Then in the most cautious manner as possible he lifted Nicole from the quicksand making sure he doesnt fall victim himself. By now she was soaked in mud and tears. Her mouth was filled with mud water in the struggle with the crocodiles.

He lifted her with his two hands and half-ran back the way they had come. There will be more alligators coming and he wasnt in the right standing to meet any of them now. He needed to get to a place of safety if there is anything like that in the sss and away from the swampy areas. He had to make it to the river as soon as possible.

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I killed her, I killed her, Azura repeated to herself. All the others could do was console her before she does something crazy.

You didnt, it was a mistake, you didnt kill her, it was a mistake, Donald consoled.

I killed her, she repeated.

In case you guys havent noticed, we need to move, Kyle shouted. He was in pains himself but survival is his first instinct.

“Whoever set this trap will come for his meal and we need to get out of here”, he repeated and hurried into the shrubs opposite the openings. All they could pray for was that they dont step on one of the other traps. The trap had been towards the trees and now they made their opposite it. But yet they couldnt be sure. They just had to take the chances.